GARFIELD, Wash. — A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection to fake bomb threats and other hoaxes made around the nation, known as “swattting.”
According to the Lewiston Police Department, an investigation began June 19 when a 911 caller reported he was holding a child hostage at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and armed with a gun. Lewiston police responded and locked down the hospital, but determined the call was a hoax.
LPD says that same number later called the department on June 20 claiming to have planted bombs around the station and threatening to shoot the dispatcher. LPD says this was call was also a hoax and the number called six times between June 19 and June 21.
The suspect was identified using search warrants through Electronic Service Providers, like Google.
Detectives suspect the 15-year-old of making swatting calls or being accomplice to calls to Texas, Idaho, Washington, New York, Oregon, Michigan, Mississippi, Illinois, and Hawaii.
Detectives say the teen was also in online chats encouraging and teaching others to make these calls. LPD says the boy also claimed he had done this for years and would accept money to make the calls.
LPD says detectives also found evidence of sound boards used to make fake gunshots and screams in order to scare dispatchers.
The teen was arrested at his home on a felony warrant out of Nez Perce County November 14.
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